Nikole Bakoles (3 of Hearts, Utah)

The Deck

Published: Wed Oct 30 2024

When duck hunters discovered human remains in an area called Saltair near The Great Salt Lake in Utah in the fall of 2000, investigators began the difficult task of trying to learn the real name of the woman they called “Saltair Sally". It took 12 years for the remains to be identified as those of Nikole “Niki” Bakoles, a 20-year-old mom originally from Washington state. Now, nearly another 12 years have passed, and investigators are still trying to figure out what happened to Niki and who left her by that lake.

Summary

The Deck Podcast: Episode Summary – "Nikole Bakoles (3 of Hearts, Utah)"

Podcast Information:

Title: The Deck
Host: audiochuck (Ashley Flowers)
Episode: Nikole Bakoles (3 of Hearts, Utah)
Release Date: October 30, 2024

Introduction

In this poignant episode of The Deck, host Ashley Flowers delves into the cold case of Nikole Bakoles, also known as the "3 of Hearts" from Utah. The episode explores Nikole's tragic disappearance, the relentless search by her family, and the ongoing investigation striving to uncover the truth behind her untimely death.

Background: The Bakolis Family

Nikole Bakoles, affectionately known as Nikki, was a vibrant young woman who disappeared in the year 2000. She was 19 years old at the time of her disappearance and the mother of an 11-year-old daughter, Chloe. Nikki's family, especially her mother Nancy, had been searching for her for over a decade without success. The family's bond was particularly strong between Nikki and her younger brother, James.

James Bacolis reminisces about their close relationship:

"When we were younger, we were just peas in a pot... she always looked after me."
[03:13]

Timeline of Events

Early Life and Relationships

Nikki led a close-knit family life until her teenage years when she began seeking independence. Her relationship with Joel, an older man she met through church, marked a turning point. Joel, aged 19 at the time, introduced Nikki to substance use, specifically heroin.

James Bacolis recalls:

"They went camping east of the mountains... it sounds ridiculous to me."
[04:24]

Descent into Substance Abuse and Motherhood

Nikki's life took a downward spiral as she and Joel struggled with addiction. Despite her challenges, Nikki became pregnant with their daughter, Chloe, and initially showed hope by entering a treatment center. However, Joel's move to Utah for a construction project with his father led Nikki to relocate with him while pregnant, against her family's wishes.

Disappearance and Initial Investigations

In January 2000, Adrienne Bacolis, Nikki's older sister, had her last conversation with Nikki. Nikki called from a motel, pleading for help while a man in the background insisted she hang up. Shortly after, all communication ceased.

Adrienne Bacolis shares the last interaction:

"She called from a motel because it came up on caller ID... there was a man yelling at her to hang up."
[08:36]

The family later discovered that Chloe had been taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services and placed with Joel's parents.

As years passed without any news, Nancy hired a private investigator, but Nikki remained missing. In 2003, Nancy officially reported Nikki missing in Midvale, Utah, the last known location.

Nancy Bacolis expresses the ongoing pain:

"It's heartbreaking because it never got easier. You don't get over that."
[11:23]

Breakthrough: Discovery of Saltaire Sally

In 2011, while searching online, Nancy found an article about a Jane Doe dubbed "Saltaire Sally," whose remains were discovered near the Great Salt Lake in 2000. Nancy recognized similarities between Saltaire Sally and Nikki.

Chloe Bacolis reflects on their discovery:

"I was still pretty young and nobody even sat me down and told me. I found an article about it online."
[18:53]

Nancy provided DNA samples, which matched Saltaire Sally in July 2012, confirming that Nikki's remains had been found.

Detective Ben Pender discusses the confirmation:

"Our researchers can confirm this was Nikole Bakolis."
[16:06]

Impact on the Family

The confirmation brought immense sorrow but also brought closure to some extent. Nancy and her siblings brought Nikki's remains back to Washington, allowing the family to mourn properly.

Adrienne Bacolis shares:

"Running around looking for answers was exhausting, but bringing her remains home was a big deal."
[21:11]

Chloe, now an adult, expressed the devastation of learning about her mother's death through a newspaper article at age 11.

Ongoing Investigation: Seeking Justice

With Nikki's identity confirmed, Detective Ben Pender and his team resumed the investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding her death. Joel, Nikki's ex-boyfriend, became a person of interest due to his history with substance abuse and the last known interactions with Nikki.

Detective Ben Pender explains Joel's involvement:

"He is definitely someone who may have more information than he has provided."
[28:52]

Joel cooperated with authorities, revealing that the last time he saw Nikki was on New Year's Eve 1999. He mentioned an argument over drug use, leading to Nikki leaving while he was in recovery. Joel provided some information about other individuals Nikki interacted with, but details were scarce.

James Bacolis considers possibilities:

"I do believe that if Joel was involved, it was more likely an overdose in him dumping her."
[32:45]

Detective Pender remains hopeful that advancements in technology and new evidence will eventually shed light on Nikki's fate. The investigation remains active, with detectives holding out hope for breakthroughs.

Detective Ben Pender emphasizes the ongoing efforts:

"We continue to look at other individuals, continue interviewing individuals... it's an ongoing investigation."
[31:01]

Family Reflections and Hopes

The Bakolis family continues to grapple with the loss and the unanswered questions surrounding Nikki's death. They honor her memory by seeking justice and hoping that Nikki's spirit finds peace.

Nancy Bacolis states:

"She wanted so badly... She just wanted to be a mom like her whole life."
[35:10]

Chloe expresses gratitude for the podcast bringing attention to her mother's case:

"I'm so appreciative. There's so many times where I was listening to Crime Junkies or the Deck... it's crazy to have any interest in our case."
[35:56]

Conclusion

The episode of The Deck meticulously chronicles the heartbreaking journey of the Bakolis family as they search for answers about Nikki's disappearance and death. Despite the years that have passed, the family's unwavering hope for justice and closure remains a testament to their love and resilience. Detective Pender's continued investigation signifies that Nikki's story is still being pursued, with the hope that one day, the truth will finally come to light.

For more information or to assist in the investigation, listeners are encouraged to contact Salt Lake County Sheriff's Detective Ben Pender at 385-468-9816 or via email at bpender@saltlakecounty.gov.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

James Bacolis on sibling bond:
"We were just peas in a pot."
[03:13]
Adrienne Bacolis on last conversation:
"She called from a motel... yelled at her to hang up."
[08:36]
Chloe Bacolis on hearing the news:
"I was still pretty young and nobody even sat me down and told me."
[18:53]
Detective Ben Pender on Joel's involvement:
"He is definitely someone who may have more information than he has provided."
[28:52]

Final Note: This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring pain of unanswered disappearances and the relentless pursuit of truth by families and investigators alike. The Deck continues to shed light on such cases, aiming to bring closure and justice to the victims and their loved ones.